Polish up those rose-tinted glasses and inflate that tri-colour hammer because Clinton Morrison’s dream XI will have you feeling nostalgic.
The former Republic of Ireland striker reeled off a team that would make Irish football fans weep tears of pure nostalgia during an appearance on Fantasy Football Club on Sky Sports.
Here’s what he had to say about the Boys In Green that made the cut.
GK: Shay Given – “He was unbelievable. I would do finishing practice with him like bend them in and I’m turning around like I’ve celebrated and somehow he’s made an unbelievable save, like plucked it out. I’m like, ‘Where did you come from Shay?’ And he says, ‘That’s why I’m playing at such a high level, mate.'”
RB: Steve Finnan – “He was brilliant. He was one of those who would give you a seven or eight out of 10 all the time. He was just unbelievable up and down. He was good at getting forward, he used to get good crosses in and he would hardly ever get done on one-on-ones on the outside. It was a hard one, because I could have picked Stephen Carr as well.”
CB: Richard Dunne – “He’s a man mountain. I had played against him a few times at Man City, but when I went to the Ireland set-up I looked at him and thought ‘he’s a bit big, this guy can’t move.’ Then at training we had 11 v 11 and the ball went down the side. No lie, he cleaned, me, the ball and everything and put me basically over the hedges. So I said, ‘I’m not going to play on your side at training, I’m going to go over to the other centre half.'”
DM: Roy Keane – “When I went to Ireland, the way this guy prepares… We used to have boxes and he would literally fizz the ball to you and he would wrap it into you. If you couldn’t control it, he’d say, ‘Well, you shouldn’t be here because at Man Utd everyone can control that sort of pass.’ And that was what he was like.”
“He used to have his shorts really high, he had his socks high and he had the black Diadora boots and I used to think, ‘This guy can’t play!’ But when we were training, his technique, his passing, even his finishing ability. We’d do finishing practice and he’d be better than all the other strikers. He set standards… he was just the best to play with.”
LM: Damien Duff – “This guy had it all. The things he used to do in training… and he was a quiet, shy lad. He didn’t speak to anyone, he wouldn’t socialise, but when you got him onto that pitch, he was one of the best. The things he could do inside and out, he scored wondergoals for Ireland and he was sensational for Chelsea. His career speaks for itself.”
ST: Robbie Keane – “His goal record at international level was one of the best I’ve ever seen. And you know what, he was so clever… He wasn’t the quickest, but I used to watch him and think, ‘how are you getting in behind defenders?’ His movement was unreal.
The remaining spots in the team were taken by Ledley King, Ashley Cole, Christophe Duggary, Emile Heskey and, the one you’ll probably have to Google, Attilio Lombardo. The former Italy international set up Morrison’s first ever goal with Crystal Palace.
